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Title: Which macromolecule is it?

Statement of the Problem:
In this lab we would conduct an experiment to test the presence of macromolecules in unknown
substances of 1,2,3,4. We will be able to distinguish between the four of macromolecules that are
available. If there is notable color changes within the experiment then the macromolecule would
be determined .There are four different major macromolecules they are lipids, proteins,
carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. Within each type of macromolecules they contain different
types of functions and sugars like monosaccharides and disaccharides. They are responsible for
many functions that go on within a cell and for proteins.
Hypothesis:
If I test for different macromolecules and see color changes then I will be able to distinguish
between the four different macromolecules.
Materials:
Goggles
Electric hot plate
one 250-400mL beaker
four small beakers
one graduated cylinder
four test tubes
four 2 mL liquid syringe
a test tube rack
a test tube holder
water bath
a sink
Benedicts reagents bottle
Iodine solution
Biurets solution
0.1 Molar HCL
Sodium hydrogen carbonate
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Procedure:
I gathered all the materials needed for the lab experiment and placed them on my desk. Then
started by putting the four unknown solutions into a graduated cylinder and then into four small
beakers. Then each solution went into four different test tubes and tested for one macromolecule
at a time. When I was done with one solution, I rinsed the test tubes thoroughly and repeated for
the next. So when the first solution went into the unknown solutions, I waited for about 6
minutes to check the results. For the tests that required the hot plates, I made a water bath,
followed the written procedure that was required for that specific macromolecule. Then placed
the test tubes inside and waited for the results and recorded the data.
1. The first thing is to receive and put on goggles and secure them while handling the
materials. IT MUST BE ON FOR ENTIRE LAB!
2. Get all the materials listed above in one area to make it easier to receive.
3. Take the four test tubes and the test tube rack and place them at you work station.
4. Label each test tube S1, S2, S3, and S4 and place them on the rack.
5. Grab the graduated cylinder and pour 10ML of unknown solution one into the cylinder.
6. Then take the graduated cylinder and pour it into one of the small beakers .
7. Wash the graduated cylinder, to make sure that the rest of the remaining substance is
gone.
8. Repeat steps 5 through 7 for unknown solution 2,3, and 4, so that at the end you would
have four small beakers of all unknown solutions. This should last for the entire lab so
there would be no need to do steps 5-7 again.
9. Then take four 2ml syringes and put them into the small beakers containing the four
different solutions.
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10. Squirt 2ml into each of the test tubes .
11. Then drop two drops of the Benedicts solution into each of the test tubes.
12. Then lets start with the glucose solution first, take your hot plate and plug it in to your
wall outlet, make sure to turn and put on the HIGH.
13. Take the 250- 400ml beaker and fill it half way up with water and place on the hot plate.
14. Place the test tubes into the beaker that is on top of the hot plate and wait for about 10
minutes or until it starts boiling. Turn off hot plate and set at the OFF button.
15. Then take the test tubes out of the hot bath using the test tube holder and place them on
the test tube rack to make the observations.
16. The record data on your data table.
17. Take your test tubes and rinse thoroughly in your sink for a few times and place them
back on the test tube rack.
18. For sucrose, turn the hot plate back on and set it on HIGH
19. Take the 2ml syringe and put 2ml into each test tube again and then put 2 drops of 0.1
Molar solutions into each test tube. Then place into hot bath, the large beaker should still
remain on the hot plate.
20. Wait another 5 to 6 minutes to put in the sodium hydronate carbonate solution, while it is
still in the water bath.
21. When it reaches a boiling point, take out the test tubes using the test tube holder wire and
place on the rack.
22. Then put 2 drops of the Benedicts solution into each test tube and then place back into
the boiling water bath.
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23. Wait another 3to 4 minutes stop the water bath and take out again. When the time is
reached take out the test tubes and place on the rack and write down the results.
24. At this point the hot plate would no longer be needed, so it should be put to the side.
25. Repeat step 17.
26. For the protein test, place 2ml of the unknown solutions into the test tube and put 2 drops
of the Biurets solution too.
27. Wait for about 6 minutes to notice and make observations of the results.
28. Repeat step 17.
29. Finally for the starch test, place 2ml of the unknown solutions into the test tube and put 2
drops of the Iodine solution into test tube.
30. Wait for about 7 minutes to make observations of the results and record the data.
31. Once all your data is recorded, make sure you clean up your workstation and put
everything back where it originally was. If there is any unknown solutions remaining then
pour them into the sink and rinse thoroughly.

Results:
Glucose (hot plate, Benedicts solution)
Unknown Solution
Tested
Observation of Color and Appearance Positive or Negative
Test
1 a blueish appearance at the bottom of test
tube and an orange color on top of that
Negative
2 Orange/ redish and green mixed together
seen
Negative
3 A redish and organgish type of color seen Positive
4 A blueish/ orange color seen Negative

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Sucrose ( hot plate, 0.1 Molar, Sodium hydronate, and Benedict solution)
Unknown Solution
Tested
Observation of Color and Appearance Positive or Negative
Test
1 A dark brown color was shown Positive
2 There was no change at all Negative
3 There was a light brown color Negative
4 There was no change at all Negative

Protein (Biurets solution)
Unknown Solution
Tested
Observation of Color and Appearance Positive or Negative
Test
1 The color seen was light blue Negative
2 The color seen was light blue Negative
3 The color seen was a white or cream color
almost clear white
Negative
4 The color shown was a mixture of dark
blue or purple.
Positive

Starch (iodine solution)
Unknown Solution
Tested
Observation of Color and Appearance Positive or Negative
Test
1 The color seen was a light orange color Negative
2 The color that was seen was dark blue/
black
Positive
3 The color seen was a light orange color Negative
4 The color that was seen was a light
orange color almost yellow
Negative

Conclusion:
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The hypothesis was accepted in this experiment because by testing we found the four different
molecules. The hypothesis was reached because when each macromolecule was tested, with the
knowledge of the macromolecules, I was able to distinguish between the four different
macromolecules. When the test for sucrose was tested, which took a while to conduct was found
and present in unknown solution 1. It took 3 different solutions to bring out the presence but was
very easy to distinct because there were two solutions that did not have a change in color or
appearance. The test for glucose was present in unknown solution 1, the solution required for the
test was conducted on a hot plate, the appearance of the solutions were very vivid and
descriptive, it had the most color present. The protein test required for the Biurets solution was
seen in the unknown solution 4. The presence of this macromolecule was easy to distinguish
because three of the test tubes were all the same color which was light blue and the obvious
solution was a dark purple. The starch test was identified in the unknown solution of 2 and
required the Iodine solution. This macromolecule was easy to distinguish because 3 of the
solutions turned light orange and the obvious solution turned black. This can conclude the
difference in the simple and complex sugars with macromolecules. There were many
experimental errors within this experiment, that might have led to incorrect data. I learned that
macromolecules can be present in anything and just needs some solutions to bring them out. This
experiment that was conducted could help in the future when a person wants to see what type of
different macromolecules are in different types of foods. So instead of using unknown solutions,
food could be used to identify types of protein in what we eat. The first experimental error that
occurred was for the first solution conducted (protein) 10ml was placed into the test tubes instead
of 2ml. This step was repeated using 2ml and found that there was no difference in the results,
for previous using the 10ml. The other experimental error that occurred was labeling the test
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tubes incorrectly and pouring the wrong unknown solution into the test tubes. Which could lead
to a messy data table and results of the solution. Another error specifically for the sucrose test
could be no putting in the different reagents at the right time.